Sheriff of the court executes her duties with an unmatched resolve
Annah’s job sometimes requires she enforces evictions of family and friends – but staying professional
Being a messenger at a law firm did not deter Annah Ralehlaka from pursuing her dream of one day having the same law firm and many others as her clients.
Today, Ralehlaka functions as an officer of the court. Her office is responsible for serving court processes such as summonses and subpoenas.
She also plays a role in the execution of court orders such as attachments of properties, evictions, demolitions, etc.
Ralehlaka, 55, was appointed as the sheriff of the higher and lower courts of Polokwane in December 2012 by the minister of justice and correctional services, making her the first black woman sheriff in Limpopo.
She started her secondary education at Masedibu High School in Seshego, Polokwane, but could not finish her matric and decided to enrol for a senior secretarial course at a college in the city.
After completing the course, she got a casual job at a retail shop owned by an Indian family where she worked for three months before she was called for an interview at the then Botha Horak Attorneys Inc (now called De Bruin Oberholzer) in Polokwane, where she was appointed as a messenger.
She then completed her matric in 1997.
She was later promoted to the post of senior typist and was later made head of the department (civil collections).
That is where Ralehlaka learned how to translate legal documents from Afrikaans to English.
She stayed at her in-laws’ house, where she had to juggle her job and look after her three children as her husband was a migrant worker at a paper-manufacturing firm in Johannesburg, until they relocated to their own shack in Seshego.
Ralehlaka’s determination at Horak de Bruin Oberholzer Inc paved the way for her to obtain a diploma in business management, certificates in labour relations and front line skills training.
Even after many unsuccessful job interviews at public and private institutions, she never gave up on her dream.
After being appointed sheriff of Polokwane, she went on to serve with dedication at the South African Sheriff Society where she is the secretary of the Limpopo branch.
She served on the advisory committee to shortlist and interview sheriffs. She also assists with mentoring and helps the sheriffs’ board to arrange training.
Ralehlaka is also a staunch member of the Saint Ann’s Council of Catholic Women, Seshego Parish.
On receiving the news that she made it to the South African Board of Sheriffs, she said a prayer.
“Being a sheriff of the court of law comes with its tricky moments where you are sometimes mandated to execute evictions, property attachments and removals of your family, neighbours and the people you know.
“You have to execute court mandates without fear or favour,” she said.
When asked how she acts in such awkward instances, Ralehlaka’s response was that she tells them “don’t shoot the messenger”.
On successfully executing her tasks, she said: “God put me in this position. He will guide me to succeed.”
‘‘ As a sheriff you have to execute court mandates without fear or favour ...